Community legal services return to the Riverland

by Vickie Chapmanon December 14, 2018

Full-time, face-to-face legal services in the Riverland have returned with the opening of the new Riverland Community Justice Centre in Kay Avenue.

Attorney-General, Vickie Chapman said the restoration of services was thanks to the allocation of an additional $600,000 by the Marshal Liberal Government to community legal services in the region as part of the 2018/19 State Budget.

“While I have no doubt that Community Justice Services SA has done an excellent job providing outreach services to the region since July last year, it’s clear that people living in the Riverland and Mallee deserve a full-time, face-to-face service.”

Attorney-General Chapman said that, in addition to a permanent presence in Berri, staff from the Riverland Community Justice Centre will continue to provide outreach services to other parts of the region.

“This will ensure that people who live in surrounding areas can have access to face-to-face services as needed,” Ms Chapman said.

“In addition, lawyers from the service will be providing supplementary duty lawyer services at the Berri Magistrates Court on an as-needs basis, as well as providing community legal education throughout the region.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development and local member for Chaffey, Tim Whetstone said this is a great day for the Riverland community, who can now rest assured there is access to legal services in the region.

“This is fantastic news for the Riverland region, who under the previous Labor Government lost out on important legal services,” Minister Whetstone said.

“I also commend the Riverland Community Justice Centre for ensuring that the new staff employed to work at the centre live in the region, creating jobs and investment within our own community.”